The good things about Toronto: Multiculturalism, Tolerance, Arts and Canadianism (and a few other little things).

The uncertainty of transient existence while being a fellow in Toronto can be stressful. Being human I fell into a trap of “things back home”. On reflection, I decided to write about all the positive things Toronto is that make it a great place to be.

Toronto is a statement to multiculturalism. In my group of ten fellows there are two bilingual Saudi Muslims, one bilingual Indian Hindu, two Irish Catholics who live above "Pogue Mahone" Irish pub and know how it translates into English, one bilingual German Catholic, one Greek Orthodox who speaks three languages fluently and lived everywhere but Greece, one Canadian Mormon and one Russian Australian Jew with a fairly good sense of identity which in true radiology spirit is definitely somewhere in between. There is also a Korean research fellow. Two or us drink Guinness, one drinks anything including boiled wine with sugar, one favours wine and cannot tell the difference between beers, four of us don't drink alcohol at all, one of whom does not even drink tea or coffee, one is a strict vegetarian, and three don't eat pork (well, one will make an exception if it is on a pizza that is shared with others). Despite the challenges, we managed to get together for meals and drinks quite a few times and had a great time!

The same diversity goes for staff radiologists and technologists at every level. Most sonographers are former physicians from the former USSR and other Eastern Block countries, from China and India. Not only does everyone get along, but work as a great team, especially considering the size of the department.

There are so many eccentric and different people here that I don’t stand out too much. Recently someone complemented me that I am one of the most objective and tolerant people. I always thought that of myself too. In Australia however I was “the least diplomatic person”. That is not to say that I am not a bit of a shock to those around me sometimes, but it is not interpreted with confrontation, rather with humour and acceptance. Or so it seems…

Tolerance is a badge worn on a sleeve. Imagine if you can a sign inside a Jewish religious hospital during gay pride parade, that reads something to the following effect: “we welcome and celebrate all members of our diverse community of all sexual orientations”, proceeding to list all sexual orientations in smaller letters. Not bad for a hospital where you will find only kosher food and where on the weekend one of the elevators stops all floors and runs continuously!

Modern arts of all kinds is a centrepiece of Canadian pride in Toronto. Studying film making is as honourable as being a law or medical student. Think MIT and engineering, think Harvard and Medicine or Law, think Toronto and modern arts.

Theatres dedicated to Canadian plays, cinemas dedicated to Canadian movies, galleries dedicated to Canadian art. I don’t know many places in the world where every bookshop selling non-academic or technical books would have a section dedicated to its national writers. In Toronto even the second hand book stores have Canadian section, which is often as large as all others put together. Excellent, good or bad – all is promoted and supported by government, corporate sectors and individuals alike. I went to a movie recently, which was by a Canadian producer, running over two sessions on a cold mid-week evening downtown. Full house!

Toronto is a place of festivals. In summer a few each week of all sorts. In winter they are every second week. Think of an endeavour/ belonging/ style/ anything-at-all, and there will surely be a festival dedicated to it. The content is variable, but marketing and event organisation are taken to a level of high art.

Japanese food is infinitely better than in Melbourne. There are innumerable eateries of all sorts and quality, and the food overall is pretty good, even if service is slightly lacking at times.

Once a month there is a long weekend (well, just about: ten out of twelve is not bad).

This was not an advertisement of Toronto, only a description of things that stand out in my mind as being unique to Toronto and that impressed me, the things that I see that make up the spirit of the place. It is young and vibrant and cultural. I like it.